Barcelona vs Real Sociedad Preview & Prediction | 2022-23 Spanish Primera
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THE FACTS
When is Barcelona vs Real Sociedad on and what time does it start? Barcelona vs Real Sociedad will take place on Saturday 20th, 2023 – 20:00 (UK)
Where can I get tickets for Barcelona vs Real Sociedad? Visit each club’s official website for the latest ticket information
What TV channel is Barcelona vs Real Sociedad on in the UK? Barcelona vs Real Sociedad will be televised live on LaLigaTV (Sky channel 435, Virgin channel 554) for those with a Viaplay subscription, while Sky and Virgin customers can also sign up to the channel.
Where can I stream Barcelona vs Real Sociedad in the UK? Barcelona vs Real Sociedad can be streamed live on Viaplay
THE LOWDOWN
Barcelona
Last weekend, Barcelona regained the Primera title with a 4-2 victory away to their city rivals, relegation threatened Espanyol. The Blaugrana racked up a 4-0 lead in just 53 minutes before conceding twice late on.
Those two goals that they conceded make up for very nearly a sixth of the goals that Barca have conceded all season. Under the management of Xavi, they have not quite been the free-flowing and fluent imitation of Guardiola/2011 that many had expected but they have adapted and been extremely effective in rising back to the top of La Liga.
With just 13 goals conceded in 34 matches, and nearly a third of their games being a 1-0 win, there is a lot of gratitude that must go towards their strong defence and, arguably, player of the year this season, Marc-Andre ter Stegen.
Real Sociedad
Under the management of Imanol Aguacil, Real Sociedad come into this on the back of a 2-2 draw with UEFA Europa Conference League chasing, Girona. La Real are now unbeaten in their last five La Liga matches, overcoming a sticky patch throughout much of the calendar year of 2023.
The Basque club begin this weekend’s round of fixtures sitting tucked inside the top four with a five-point lead over Villarreal and seeking to, eventually, earn UEFA Champions League qualification after three successive seasons of starting the season well before badly fading as it went on.
The aforementioned 2-2 draw at home to Barcelona’s fellow Catalans, Girona, will be an irritation to Aguacil and Real Sociedad. Via Mikel Oyarzabal and David Silva, they had taken a 2-0 lead inside 25 minutes and could have all but secured a top four finish if they had held on for victory.
THE PREDICTION
These are two strong sides and are very likely to make up half of Spain’s entrants into Europe’s elite club competition next season. Despite the two teams having unique styles of football in possession, whether that be a direct reactivity and counter-attacking style of football or aggressive, intense pressing game, neither are necessarily free-flowing. Combine that with the fact they have the two best defensive records in the league and this may not be that thrilling for the neutral.
TIP: UNDER 3.5 GOALS
